Health Information Management

What are the costs of release of information?

HIM Connection, December 23, 2008

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A: Some obvious categories of cost include labor, supplies, equipment (depreciation), maintenance, and software. One method of compiling the cost elements is to flowchart or list the steps of the release of information process. Consider the following: 

  • Pick up the mail (labor time/costs)
  • Sort the mail (labor time/costs)
  • Open the mail (labor time/costs; product cost [letter opener, stapler, staple remover, tape, and tape dispenser], other [desk/work space, chair, lighting, AC/heat, carpet, paint])

Editor’s note: This Q&A was adapted from HCPro’s book The Practical Guide to Release of Information. To read more about the costs of release of information and to purchase a copy of this book, click here.



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